Wiltshire Unitary Authority was established after a Democratic Vote in April 1st 2009. You were told it would be more cost effective, save money and improve services and many of you believed that.

It replaced Wiltshire County Council, which was established in 1979 and consisted of 4 District Councils. These were Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Unitary Authority Councillors get a basic allowance for 2021/22 set at £14,075 per annum for failing to meet the needs of those who pay Council Tax and Business Rates.

As District Councillors we rarely claimed any expenses, had no allowances and did our job because of our commitment to our local communities.

The promise of the new Unitary Authority was that they would improve services and reduce the cost of having 4 separate councils of the County Council. They failed to meet that promise.

They failed miserably and have effectively procured Community Land and Property (Of Town & Parish Councils) and sold them off to cover their expenses and losses.

In addition, you (as Residents and Businesses in the County) now pay disproportionately increased Council & Business Taxes, Increase Parking Charges and Increased Rents of Unitary Authority owned Business premises.

This is because the Tory dominated Authority lied to you and had no intention of improving services. They instead cut back on funding and staffing of those services over the last 23 years of its existence.

I worked for the Authority (as well as in the Voluntary Sector). I saw staffing cuts of 50%+ and admin time reaching 50% because admin staff were also cut. I saw the consequences in my Community Work.

I saw many of my colleagues becoming ill through bullying and intolerable levels of workload stress. It led to the deterioration of the services to some of the most vulnerable people.

Many of the best workers ended up leaving because of ill health, or because the work condition became increase intolerable, as further staffing levels were reduced.

As a professional I was responsible for reporting any shortfalls that were identified in the services we were providing (to some of the most vulnerable people). I did this regularly and nothing changed.

I eventually Whistle-blew and got the sack (with some relief). I have since won 12 Community Advocacy cases against Wiltshire Council in the Courts. There were after 'Reconsiderations' were rejected by them.

The number of cases of the Authorities Failures are now too many for me and other Advocates to meet. Legal Action has become too expensive for ordinary people and Wiltshire Unitary Authority relies on that to get away with its failures and Institutional Negligence & Abuses.

This is why I have organised this petition, to help expose the failures of Wiltshire Unitary Authority' (It is not the County Council of old). Your vote for them created these problems I am afraid. Unitary Authorities are their for their own benefit.

This Authority is operating as a Property Business for the benefit of Executive Officers and Councillors, who are paid to provide services to you, but mostly just love to wield power like Tories always do.

Please Sign the Petition and Share with friends and family.

Terry Couchman - Tel/Text: 07910173336